26 November/Friday/34th Week in Ordinary Time,
Dan 7,2-14/Dan 3,75.76.77.78.79.80.81/Luke 21,29-33
By Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD
First Reading Daniel 7:2-14
'I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man'
I, Daniel, have been seeing visions in the night. I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea; four great beasts emerged from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion with eagle’s wings; and as I looked its wings were torn off, and it was lifted from the ground and set standing on its feet like a man; and it was given a human heart. The second beast I saw was different, like a bear, raised up on one of its sides, with three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth. “Up!” came the command “Eat quantities of flesh!” After this I looked, and saw another beast, like a leopard, and with four bird’s wings on its flanks; it had four heads, and power was given to it. Next I saw another vision in the visions of the night: I saw a fourth beast, fearful, terrifying, very strong; it had great iron teeth, and it ate, crushed and trampled underfoot what remained. It was different from the previous beasts and had ten horns.
While I was looking at these horns, I saw another horn sprouting among them, a little one; three of the original horns were pulled out by the roots to make way for it; and in this horn I saw eyes like human eyes, and a mouth that was full of boasts. As I watched:
Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.
The great things the horn was saying were still ringing in my ears, and as I watched, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and committed to the flames. The other beasts were deprived of their power, but received a lease of life for a season and a time.
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:75-81
Mountains and hills! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Every thing that grows on the earth! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Springs of water! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Seas and rivers! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Sea beasts and everything that lives in water! bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Birds of heaven! all bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Animals wild and tame! all bless the Lord.
Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Gospel Acclamation Luke 21:28
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stand erect, hold your heads high,
because your liberation is near at hand.
Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 21:29-33
My words will never pass away
Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’
Reflection
Daniel 7 marks a new literary style in the Book of Daniel. The first six chapters were of the historical style, now the author switches to the prophetic or apocalyptic style. Furthermore, in the first six chapters Daniel was interpreting the dreams of other people, now angels would interpret his visions. The vision of Daniel in the First Reading is one of the four visions he was privileged to receive. The one in the First Reading took place during the reign of King Belshazzar. The situation on the ground at the time Daniel received the vision is reflected in what he saw. The Babylonian Empire was on the decline and it was an occasion for God to reveal to his people that he was in control of world history.
Daniel saw the four winds of heaven which represent the four corners of the earth. The winds stirred up the Mediterranean Sea which symbolizes the sea of humanity. There was turmoil as the empire faced instability. This provoked a succession of kingdoms which the author refers to as four great beasts. The lion-like beast represents Nebuchadnezzar but the changes the beast undergoes symbolize his humiliating insanity and eventual salvation which is expressed as the giving of a human heart. The bear symbolizes the Medo-Persian Empire that succeeded the Babylonian Empire. King Cyrus is a key figure of this empire. The leopard symbolized the Grecian Empire that succeeded the Medo-Persian Empire. This empire is represented by Alexander the Great. The four heads of the leopard symbolize the four generals who divided the empire after the death of Alexander the Great. The fourth beast which is without comparison is said to be terrifying, frightening and very powerful. Everything about this beast inspires fear.
This vision of the four beasts portrays the ultimate glory of God on earth. Every empire that comes into power is under the control of God and he decides when that kingdom must give way to another. Usually, such changes become necessary when leaders fail to follow the dictates of God or when the leaders think all depends on them and they control events in the world. Even in our own times, there are leaders who think in these terms. We have to keep in mind that as Christians we have only one Lord to whom we owe allegiance. When we are in leadership, we should look up to him and depend on him for guidance so that all that we do would be according to his will. Let us keep in mind the words of Jesus in the Gospel Reading: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Let us rest on this assurance and do all we can to remain faithful to the Lord.
